Whatever It Takes

As I write this, I am in the midst of being reborn. Yes, even a believer of 28 years can experience a new beginning.  My fresh start is not, however, a result of salvation or even complete surrender to God in my life.  Those "boxes" were checked some time ago.  My new beginning is growing from a sense of passion for what God wants each of us to become as we journey towards him. What is that, you ask?  He wants us to be sold out for him - heart, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30); he wants us to take responsibility for sharing the gospel and building the kingdom (Matthew 28:19-20); and I believe he wants us to take responsibility for the results, both positive and negative, of these actions.

While at District Assembly (a gathering of Nazarene churches in Washington from Canada to Oregon, West of the Cascades), I had an opportunity to listen to Dr. Jerry Porter, a General Superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene, speak to these concepts.  He shared an illustration that jump started some of these thoughts:
 

"Imagine you were responsible for a church. If someone came to you and offered you a  million dollars if you doubled the size of your church in six months, what would you have to do to make it happen?"

Think about that for a moment.  What would you do?  What would you change?  What would it look like for you?  I have been thinking on this question since the GS asked it.  As a result, I'm beginning to identify areas that could change and areas that NEED to change if Community of Hope were faced with this question.

I think it is fair to say most pastors/people would do whatever it takes if it meant getting one million dollars for doubling their church in 6 months.  Think about how amazing that would be.  More people would be part of God's kingdom and there would be a huge reward for accomplishing this feat.  But wait a minute, isn't there already a huge reward for doing this?  Isn't eternity with the God of Creation far more valuable than one million dollars?  Shouldn't that reward be the driving force?  I think it is.  I think it should.

This, of course, is what the GS was ultimately getting at.  We have an opportunity to receive the greatest reward ever, so why aren't we doing whatever it takes to make it happen.  Instead, we attempt to rationalize why something has not been accomplished and we fail to take responsibility for the results.

I believe God is responsible for salvation.  God and only God is capable of taking a sinner and forgiving their sins.  Only God is capable of paying the price for our sins and setting us free.  In fact, God paid the ultimate price. We see this evidenced in the death of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection from the grave. While salvation can only come though God, God has intentionally chosen to spread the good news of salvation by using sinners who have been saved by grace.  Sinners saved by grace just like you and just like me.  We have an important role to play in the process.

Yet, how many sinners saved by grace take this role seriously?  How many of us give a 100% effort toward this end? How many of us are willing to do whatever it takes?  We would likely do it for a million dollars, but will we do it for eternity?

Now, I'm about to be completely vulnerable with you and that's not easy for me.  I'm tired.  I'm tired physically because of the need to be bi-vocational; I'm tired mentally and emotionally because of the efforts to revive a church in decline for more than 20 years; I'm tired spiritually, because I have a human desire to see spiritual fruit develop faster as a result of my human efforts; and as a result of my fatigue, I find myself attempting to rationalize why things are not different.

The challenge by the GS to do whatever it takes has also remind me that in the midst of my fatigue, I know God is still God; in the midst of my fatigue I refuse to give up on what God has called me towards; and in the midst of my fatigue I need to do whatever it takes to be used by God in the process of salvation.  I need to take responsibility for what I am capable of doing and/or changing.

As a result, I am evaluating different areas of my life.  I'm analyzing what I'm doing right, and what needs to change, so I can be more effective and productive in accomplishing what God needs done.  Self-evaluation is never easy, it is rarely enjoyable, but the results can be life-changing; and that's ultimately what I want to do, change lives for God.

What that looks like exactly, I don't know.  I do know this... I am willing to do whatever it takes.

Until next time,

David

Clean Sweep

"God doesn't seek for golden vessels, and does not ask for silver ones, but He must have clean ones." -- D.L. Moody

Years ago, I enjoyed watching the show Clean Sweep on The Learning Channel (TLC).  TLC describes the show as follows:

"Too much stuff? Not enough space? Is your house cluttered from floor to ceiling with more disorder than anyone can handle? Clean Sweep is an emotionally charged yet often comedic hour of television.  In every episode, our team of ruthless, yet talented, experts will help homeowners dramatically transform two areas in their house from disaster areas to functional, stylishly organized living spaces..." (TLC, last accessed 12.27.2012)

One of my favorite parts of the show was when all the contents of the rooms being remodeled were placed out on the front lawn in a pile.  The homeowners then had to divide the pile into three categories: keep, sell, throw away.  Often, the homeowners would simply start putting everything in the keep category.  Eventually, one of the hosts would come out and make them start over, and in the end, the keep pile was usually the smallest and the throw away pile was the largest.

I was always amazed at how much "stuff" people had in their homes, let alone their closets; and TLC wasn't kidding when they described the show as "emotionally charged."  The homeowners in the show would shed tears over "stuff" that looked like complete junk to me, but had obvious sentimental value to them.  However, no matter how many tears were shed or arguments raised about what they could keep or not keep, they were required to eliminate "stuff" from their life.  Fortunately, the skilled team of "ruthless, yet talented, experts" helped navigate the tumultuous waters of change

While all of this was taking place, a crew of designers and builders worked hard to remodel the rooms inside.  They tore out old structures that were no longer needed and added new ones to help reinforce the changes being made outside.  Not only were structural changes made, but aesthetic enhancements were introduced to create a sense of connection with the new space.  I have to admit, I may have coveted a few times after the rooms were completed.  Some of them were simply amazing.

At the end of the show, the homeowners would experience the big reveal. They would get blindfolded and led into the newly designed spaces.  When the blindfold was removed, they would be in awe of what had been accomplished.  Some would gawk with their mouth wide open, others started crying, while some literally jumped for joy.  I can only recall one time when the homeowner was unhappy with the results, but it was no surprise to the crew, or the viewers.  That individual fussed and complained the entire show.

When you think about it, our lives are not much different than our homes.  As time goes by we collect all types of "stuff" in our lives.  Some "stuff" is collected through moments of great joy and celebration, while other "stuff" is a result of challenges and difficulties.  It could be emotional baggage from relationships gone bad, or behavioral habits resulting from the people you spend time with. Regardless of the source of our "stuff," we all have some and many of us have more than we should.

Now, just as physical stuff can clutter a room, excessive and unhealthy mental, emotional, and spiritual "stuff" can clutter our lives.  In fact, many of us need to make a clean sweep through our lives.  We need to take inventory and get rid of the clutter building up inside of us.  This is a challenging task regardless of age, maturity, or spiritual status with God.  It's challenging because our "stuff," both the positive and the negative, has helped mold and shape us into who we are.  We are used to our "stuff;" it is a part of us.

When an drug addict goes into a rehab program, one of the first steps is to detoxify the individual.  According to Merriam-Webster, the goal is to "remove a harmful substance (as a poison or toxin) or the effect of such from" the individual (Merriam-Webster, last accessed 12.27.2012).  By removing the toxins having a negative impact on the individual, they can begin to focus on rebuilding healthy structures, boundaries, and relationships in their life.  Ideally, at the end of rehab the individual has the "tools" and resources necessary to make healthy decisions leading to a purposeful and meaningful future.

Like an addict whose body needs to be detoxified, many of us (myself included) need to detoxify our lives of the bad "stuff" we have collected and stored across the years.  If we fail to remove the clutter of "stuff" from our lives, it will hinder us from achieving our full potential.  If, however, we can put our lives through a rehab program, of sorts, we will increase our potential to live a purposeful, meaningful, and significant life now and in the future.

These concepts have been at the forefront of my thinking as I reflect on personal, local, national, and global events of 2012.  As a result, I am challenged with how to make 2013 more purposeful and meaningful not only personally, but in as many areas as possible. I am challenged to live 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year with purpose and meaning. To accomplish this, I have chosen to approach the coming year in the following way:

Detoxification:  Craig Groeschel wrote a book in 2012 entitled, Soul Detox: Clean Living In A Contaminated World.  His basic premise is that we need to clean our lives of anything that is not beneficial for us.  We need to eliminate toxic behaviors, emotions, and influences from our lives. If I am, if we are, going to live 24/7/365, these must go!  This is fully possible through a relationship with Jesus. Why? Because he will give us what's necessary to get the job done (Philippians 4:13); because in the midst of trials and difficulties, he has overcome the world (John 16:33).

Remodel:  Just like in the show Clean Sweep, the rooms of my life, of your life, need to be remodeled to reinforce the changes resulting from the detoxification process.  For some this might include a new foundation all together, for others it might simply be an adjustment here or a tweak there. Overall, I believe this remodel MUST include more intimate time in God's word and a greater commitment to prayer than ever before.

The Reveal:  The moment of truth in Clean Sweep comes when the remodel is revealed to the homeowners for the first time.  There is great joy and excitement when they see the remodeled rooms, and what we get excited about we share.  Think about the last time something wonderful happened in your life.  Did you keep it a secret? I submit that you did not. I imagine those homeowners couldn't wait to share about their newly remodeled rooms.  They probably had a big party with all the neighbors and celebrated for days, if not weeks.

As our lives are detoxified and remodeled, I need to, you need to, celebrate what is happening and then reveal the results to others.  People get excited about excitement. It's practically contagious. Your reveal may just be the incentive needed to begin the process in their own life.  One by one, we can make a difference in the lives of people around us.

I am excited about the potential 2013 holds to live 24/7/365.  May you experience a clean sweep in your life that leads to unlocking your potential in the coming year as well.  May God guide us, shape us, and use us to accomplish great things for Him in the world around us.

Until next time,

David

They Rode Home In A Hearse

I understand the excitement of firing a gun.  I served in our armed forces where I fired a gun for the very first time.  They trained me to strip it down, clean it, put it back together, and hit my target every time.  I admit there was an adrenaline rush the first time I pulled the trigger on that M-16.  The raw power I held in my hands was incredible.  Later I served in the Air Force Honor Guard where I became proficient with the M-1 Carbine.  I shot that rifle in twenty-one gun salutes more than I can remember, and even though we only shot blanks, the power of the gun was still apparent.  Fortunately, I was one of the “good guys.”  I treated these weapons with respect and used them for appropriate purposes.

I also understand the practical use of guns.  While I prefer to use a bow, many of my friends who hunt prefer the rifle.  Some hunt for sport (not a fan), while others hunt for food (the only good reason to hunt).  Hunters have very particular requirements governing the use of weapons in hunting (i.e., wearing orange, type and caliber of gun, etc…).  If they get caught in violation, they lose their ability to hunt. 

Now I’m no expert, but I’m pretty sure our founding fathers would be devastated by the events of last week.  I’m pretty sure their intentional inclusion of the Second Amendment was more practical for their day.  Not only that, but they were using muskets – guns that required the shooter to reload after each shot.  I’m not convinced our founding fathers would have been as generic about the right to bear arms if there had been automatic, semi-automatic, or assault weapons available to the general public back then. I’m pretty sure they would have implemented significant restrictions.

As a youth pastor, I was directly connected to students who personally experienced the Columbine shootings in April of 1999.  I spent time helping them move past the loss of friends and learning in the midst of great tragedy, there is still hope and a future.

The tragedies last week, in both Oregon and Connecticut, should remind us that life itself is more valuable than the right to bear arms.  I'm not suggesting we take away that right, but the children who died in CT last week will never have an opportunity to exercise their Second Amendment rights.  So, do we emphasize the right to bear arms or the sanctity of life?

In my humble opinion, the abuse of guns in our country should be as important a topic as gay marriage or legalizing marijuana was in the last election.  Regardless of which side of these two issues you fall, are they truly more important than the lives of the children and teachers taken from their families last week?  I submit they are not. Why then are we afraid to tackle this issue head on?

I don’t want guns to go away.  I want them regulated in a way that protects our right to have them, but at the same time, limits or deters individuals from using them inappropriately. I don’t have the answers either. I wish I did. 

What I do know is that we, as individuals and a nation, need to openly discuss this issue with honesty and respect, and for the purpose of limiting/preventing another Columbine (CO), Virginia Tech (VA), Batman shooting (CO), Clackamas Mall (OR), or Sandy Hook (CT). If you don’t believe me, just ask the parents of the Sandy Hook kids who rode home from school, not in a school bus, but in a hearse.

May God grant us the strength to put our differences aside for the sanctity of human life, and our children’s future!

Until next time,

David

PS - This NY Times article about the events of last week is worth reading.  Maybe it will jump start some healthy conversations where you live.